Las Vegas Bowl

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV, 3:30 ET, ABC

Houston, American Athletic, 9-3

The Cougars might have come out flat in the regular-season finale against Houston, but the defense has been stellar almost all season. The run D finished its season No. 2 in the nation allowing just 98 yards per game.

San Diego State, Mountain West, 10-3

The Aztecs could’ve and should’ve challenged for the Group of Five champion spot in the New Year’s Six. But even with just about everyone back from a dominant defense that won last year’s Mountain West title, and with Donnel Pumphrey ripping it up and becoming one of the greatest rushers in college football history, they misfired in a few puzzlers. How could this team lose to South Alabama and get dominated by Colorado State? It’ll take a second straight Mountain West title and an 11th win, cementing itself as the league’s power team.
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